Electric cut-out.



T. E. MURRAY.

ELECTRIC GUT-OUT.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 27,1909

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

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T. E. MURRAY.

ELEGTRIG GUT-OUT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27, 1909 949,283. Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

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wozmm I T THOMAS E. MURRAY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC CUT-OUT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

Application filed March 27, 1909. Serial No. 486,093.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. MURRAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Cut-Outs,of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to electric cut-outs, and consists in theconstruction, whereby the fuse is disposed in a pivoted circuit closingarm within the inclosing box or case, which arm is controlled to make orbreak circuit by suitable means from the exterior of said case; also inthe combination of a plurality of said boxes in juxtaposition and thearrangement of the main and local conductors connected therewith, andalso in the various combinations more particularly set forth in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure l is a plan view of my cut-out. Fig.2 is a section on the line a, w, of Fig. 1. Fig. 3

is a section on the line y, y, of Fig. 1. Fig. at is a section on theline 2, z, of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an elevation of a corner of theinclosing case, showing the removable cover and end piece. Fig. 6 showsseparately and in perspective, the cam key for operating the pivotedfuse cases. Fig. 7 shows separately and in perspective, one of the fusecases with a portion of the wall broken away to exhibit the fuse stripand filling. Fig. 8 shows separately and in perspective, the holder forthe spring terminal at one end of a fuse case. Fig. 9 shows in faceelevation, a number of my cut-out boxes disposed in juxtaposition on asuitable support. Figs. 10 and 11 show modified forms of the lockingdevice.

Similar numbers and letters of reference indicate like parts.

As here shown, my cut-out is constructed to control two local circuitsreceiving current from a three wire system, of which a and o arerespectively the plus and minus, and b the neutral conductor. The localconductors cl, 6, on the right hand side of Fig. 1 are respectivelyelectrically connected to main conductors b and c, and the localconductors f, g, on the left hand side of Fig. 1 are respectivelyelectrically connected to main conductors a and b.

The construction of the parts of the device on each side of themlddleline represented by the conductor 6 is the same, so Itahat adescription of one side will apply to A is the base plate of theapparatus, made preferably of porcelain or other fictile material, andhaving formed integrally with it, end walls B, G and side walls D, E,the whole forming, with the covers, an inclosing box. The side walls areseparated at their ends from the end walls by intervals, one of whichmay be left open, as shown at F, for the passage of the local circuitwires, and the other closed by a shouldered sliding piece G. Where anumber of cut-outs are grouped together in juxtaposition, as shown inFig. 9, all of these intervals may be left open, so that the localconductors from each box may be carried through other boxes, if desired,of the series to an outlet in the wall of the last box of said series.

Extending between the side walls D, E are four partitions, H, I, J, K,forming channels through which pass the main con ductors a, b, 0. Twocovers L, M meeting at their inner edges rest on said partitions andside walls, and at their outer ends are beveled to extend beneathsimilarly beveled shoulders on the end walls B, C, as shown at 0, Fig.2. On each side of the beveled edge of the covers are projections Pwhich receive the beveled shoulder of the end wall between them, lateraldisplacement of the cover being in this way prevented. In order to lockthe covers in place, I provide metal strips Q which may be secured tothe base in any suitable way(they are here shown embedded in partitionsI, J) which extend up through openings in said covers. Apertures areformed in said strips, above said covers, to receive the shackles of anysuitable seal fastenings R.

I will now describe the parts which have already been referred to as thesame on both sides of the device.

From the partition H extends a longitudinal partition S which is dividedto receive a rotary cam key 1, seated in the base A at its lower end andshouldered in an opening in the cover L, through which it extends. Thefunction of key 1 is to move the swinging fuse cases 3, 4:t0 closecircuit with fixed contact terminals 5, 6. Said terminals are metalplates disposed on the inner surface of the side walls B, C. Theterminal 5 connects by a metal strip 7 with the clip 8 which receivesmain conductor a, and the terminal 6 connects by a similar strip 9 withthe clip 10 which receives the neutral conductor 5.

The fuse cases 3, 1 are alike and each is constructed as follows (seeFig. 7). 11 is a tubular envelop of fictile material, preferablyporcelain, having metal end caps or terminals 12, 13. Between saidterminals extends the fuse strip 14, and the space within the envelop isfilled with pulverized non-combustible material 15, (see Fig. 7 in whichthe strip 1 1 is embedded. One fuse terminal 12 has its resilient endplate bent over in loop form, as shown at 16, Fig. 7, said bent overportion 16 entering between the vertical bent over loop 17 of a plate18, Fig. 8, which is secured to the base A. Said mutually engagingloops, 16, 17, together form a spring. One of the local circuitconductors, namely, f, is connected to plate 18, and the other localconductor 9 is connected to the similar plate 18 to which fuse case 3 isattached. Circuit, therefore, proceeds from the main conductors a, Z) tothe local conductors f, 9, through the metal strips 7 and 9, contactterminals 5, 6, fuse case terminals 13, fuse strips 14 in cases 3, 4,fuse case terminals 12 and plates 18.

When the cam key 1 is turned so that its operation portion is in linewith partition S, (dotted lines on the left hand side of Fig. 1) thesprings 16, 17 at the end of each fuse case 3, 1 move the terminals 13of said fuse cases out of contact with the fixed terminals 5, 6thuscutting out the local circuit conductors f, 9. When the cam key 1 isturned, as shown in full lines, so that its operating portion istransverse to the partition S, said operating portion acting on thesides of the fuse cases 3, 1, swings Said fuse cases, and against theresiliency of the spring, carries the terminals 13 of said fuse casesinto contact with the fixed terminals 5, 6thus comis brought into andout of circuit simply by swinging its containing case, so as to bringaterminal on said case into and out of contact with a fixed circuitterminal disposed in its path of movement; also, that this isaccomplished by simply rotating the cam key 1 which here controls bothfuse cases in like manner, and so makes and breaks circuit in both localconductors. It is further to be observed that the external shape of thedevice is that of a right prism or box without projections on side orend walls or bottom. This enables me to place any number of cut-outboxes in close contact on any suitable support, such as the frame orcase T, Fig. 9, where they are shown as piled in juxtaposition, oneabove the other. The local circuit conductors leading from each box arecarried up through the open intervals F between the side and end wallsof the series of boxes above it, these intervals registering, so that inthis way, conduits are formed for the reception of said conducing alocking bar 21 headed at one end through either opening 19 or 20 and theopening in strip Q, as shown in Fig. 11, a seal fastening B being thensecured in an aperture in the end of said bar to prevent removalthereof. In such case, said bar will not only prevent removal of thecover, but also the rotation of the cam key. Or, I may carry a bar 21through both of the cam keys in the device and both strips Q, as shownin Fig. 10. Or, I may simply insert a bar through both openings in thestrips Q without passing it through the cam keys, using as before, asingle seal at one end.

I claim:

1. In an electric switch, a base plate, a support pivoted to swing in aplane parallel to said base, a fuse on said support, metallic l endpieces ,on said support connected to the extremities of said fuse, andtwo fixed circuit terminals: one of said end pieces being pivoted to onecircuit terminal and the other end piece closing circuit with the othercircuit terminal. 7

2. In an electric switch, a base plate, a fixed circuit terminal, a fusecase and fuse of the cartridge type, metallic end pieces on said case,and two fixed circuit terminals: the said fuse case being pivoted at oneend to one circuit terminal and movable in a plane parallel to said baseto close circuit at its opposite end piece with the other circuitterminal.

3. In an electric switch, a base plate, a support, two arms thereonswinging in a plane parallel to said plate, a fuse in circuit carried byeach of said arms, fixed contacts, and means for simultaneouslyoperating both of said arms to close or open circuit at said contacts.

41. In an electric switch, a base plate, a fuse case, a spring hingeconnection between one end of said case and said base plate, a fuse insaid case in circuit with said hinge connection and with an endterminal, and a con tact on said base in the path of movement of saidterminal; the said path being in a plane parallel to said base.

5. In an electric switch, a support, a fuse case, a plate on saidsupport having a pro j ection doubled over to form a loop, a plate onone end of said fuse case doubled over to form a loop and detachablyengaging with the loop on said support plate, a plate on the oppositeend of said fuse case, a fuse in said case connecting said fuse caseplates, a contact on said support, and means for moving the said fusecase to cause the plate on the free end thereof to close circuit withsaid contact.

6. In an electric switch, a support, a swinging arm thereon, terminalson said arm, a fuse carried by said arm and connecting said terminals, afixed circuit terminal in the path of movement of the terminal on thefree end of said arm, and a rotary cam key disposed in said support andengaging with said arm to move said free end terminal thereon intocontact with said fixed terminal.

7. In an electric switch, a support, a swinging arm thereon, 'terminalson said arm, a fuse carried by said arm and connecting said terminals, afixed circuit terminal in the path of movement of the terminal on thefree end of said arm, a rotary cam key disposed in said support andengaging with said arm to move said free end terminal thereon intocontact with said fixed terminal, and a removable locking device forpreventing rotation of said key.

8. In an electric switch, a box, a cover therefor, a swinging arm insaid box, terminals on said arm, a fuse carried by said arm andconnecting said terminals, a fixed circuit terminal in said box and inthe path of movement of the terminal on the free end of said arm, arotary cam key disposed in said box extending through said cover andengaging with said arm to move said free end terminal thereon intocontact with said fixed terminal, and a locking device for preventingrotation of said key and removal of said cover.

9. The combination of a support, a plurality of boxes disposed injuxtaposition thereon, main circuit conductors extending through all ofsaid boxes, and, in each box, local circuit conductors leading from saidmain conductors, and a cut-out in said local circuit: the said localconductors extending through a transverse passage at the end of eachintermediate box to an outlet in a wall of the last box of the series.

10. The combination of a support, a plurality of boxes disposed injuxtaposition thereon, main circuit conductors extending through all ofsaid boxes, and, in each box, local circuit conductors leading from saidmain conductors, a cut-out in each local conductor, and means operablefrom the exterior of the box for actuating said cut-outs to make andbreak local circuit: the said local conductors extending through atransverse passage at the end of each intermediate box to an outlet in awall of the last box of the series.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

THOMAS E. MURRAY.

l/Vitnesses:

MAY T. MCGARRY, GERTRUDE T. PORTER.

